When an electrode is kept in contact with a solution of its ions, if the metal tends to lose electrons then which of the following term is used to denote the potential?

Oxidation potential

Apologies for the confusion in my previous response. The correct answer is: 1. Oxidation potential

When an electrode is kept in contact with a solution of its ions, and the metal tends to lose electrons, the potential associated with this process is called the oxidation potential.
The oxidation potential is a measure of the tendency of a species to lose electrons and undergo oxidation. It is an important parameter in electrochemistry and is commonly used to compare the relative ease of oxidation of different species.

An electrode with a high oxidation potential is more likely to lose electrons (undergo oxidation) and act as an anode in an electrochemical cell, while an electrode with a low oxidation potential is less likely to lose electrons and may act as a cathode in the cell.

Option 2, "Reduction potential," is not used to denote the potential in this context because reduction potential refers to the tendency of a species to gain electrons and undergo reduction.

Option 3, "Overvoltage," refers to the extra potential that needs to be applied to drive an electrochemical reaction at a higher rate than the thermodynamically favorable potential.

Option 4, "None of these," is not correct as oxidation potential is the appropriate term used to denote the potential in this scenario.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 1: Oxidation potential.